Broad therapeutic treatment window of [Nle(4), D-Phe(7)]alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone for long-lasting protection against ischemic stroke, in Mongolian gerbils.

Giuliani D, Leone S, Mioni C, Bazzani C, Zaffe D, Botticelli AR, Altavilla D, Galantucci M, Minutoli L, Bitto A, Squadrito F, Guarini S

European journal of pharmacology24 Mar 2006Cited by 35 (Europe PMC)

PMID16647700DOI10.1016/j.ejphar.2006.03.038PepBankPUB-16647700

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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study5

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In gerbils with global cerebral ischemia, NDP-alpha-MSH started 3-18 h after the episode reduced hippocampal damage.
In plain wordsIn gerbils with induced brain ischemia, NDP-alpha-MSH given after the event reduced damage in the hippocampus.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
DecreaseHippocampal damage after ischemia
Study
Mongolian gerbiln: not reported in source
Global cerebral ischemia (10 min, both common carotid arteries occluded)
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
340 µg/kg every 12 h · intraperitoneal · 11 daysAs given in this study (Mongolian gerbil).
Source sentences
Summary
Treatment with a nanomolar dose (340 microg/kg i.p., every 12 h for 11 days) of the melanocortin analog [Nle(4), D-Phe(7)]alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (NDP-alpha-MSH), starting 3-18 h after the ischemic episode, reduced hippocampal damage with improvement in subsequent functional recovery.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A 10-min period of global cerebral ischemia in gerbils, induced by occluding both common carotid arteries, caused impairment in spatial learning and memory (Morris test: four sessions from 4 to 67 days after the ischemic episode), associated with neuronal death in the hippocampus.
Report a problemFND-1664770001
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In gerbils with global cerebral ischemia, NDP-alpha-MSH treatment was followed by improved functional recovery.
In plain wordsIn gerbils with induced brain ischemia, NDP-alpha-MSH treatment was followed by better recovery of function.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
IncreaseFunctional recovery (spatial learning and memory)
Study
Mongolian gerbiln: not reported in source
Global cerebral ischemia (10 min, both common carotid arteries occluded)
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
340 µg/kg every 12 h · intraperitoneal · 11 daysAs given in this study (Mongolian gerbil).
Source sentences
Summary
Treatment with a nanomolar dose (340 microg/kg i.p., every 12 h for 11 days) of the melanocortin analog [Nle(4), D-Phe(7)]alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (NDP-alpha-MSH), starting 3-18 h after the ischemic episode, reduced hippocampal damage with improvement in subsequent functional recovery.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A 10-min period of global cerebral ischemia in gerbils, induced by occluding both common carotid arteries, caused impairment in spatial learning and memory (Morris test: four sessions from 4 to 67 days after the ischemic episode), associated with neuronal death in the hippocampus.
Report a problemFND-1664770002
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In gerbils with global cerebral ischemia, the protective effect of NDP-alpha-MSH lasted at least 67 days with all treatment schedules.
In plain wordsIn gerbils, the protection from NDP-alpha-MSH lasted at least 67 days with all schedules tested.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
IncreaseDuration of protective effect
Study
Mongolian gerbiln: not reported in source
Global cerebral ischemia (10 min, both common carotid arteries occluded)
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
340 µg/kg every 12 h · intraperitoneal · 11 daysAs given in this study (Mongolian gerbil).
Source sentences
Summary
The protective effect was long-lasting (67 days, at least) with all schedules of NDP-alpha-MSH treatment; however, in the latest treated (18 h) gerbils, some spatial memory deficits were detected.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A 10-min period of global cerebral ischemia in gerbils, induced by occluding both common carotid arteries, caused impairment in spatial learning and memory (Morris test: four sessions from 4 to 67 days after the ischemic episode), associated with neuronal death in the hippocampus.
Report a problemFND-1664770003
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In gerbils treated 18 h after ischemia, some spatial memory deficits were still detected despite NDP-alpha-MSH treatment.
In plain wordsIn gerbils treated 18 hours after the ischemia, some memory deficits remained despite NDP-alpha-MSH.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
MixedSpatial memory in gerbils treated 18 h after ischemia
Study
Mongolian gerbiln: not reported in source
Global cerebral ischemia (10 min, both common carotid arteries occluded)
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
340 µg/kg every 12 h · intraperitoneal · 11 daysAs given in this study (Mongolian gerbil).
Source sentences
Summary
however, in the latest treated (18 h) gerbils, some spatial memory deficits were detected.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A 10-min period of global cerebral ischemia in gerbils, induced by occluding both common carotid arteries, caused impairment in spatial learning and memory (Morris test: four sessions from 4 to 67 days after the ischemic episode), associated with neuronal death in the hippocampus.
Report a problemFND-1664770004

Studies that did not test the peptide alone1

In this study, Melanotan I (afamelanotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Melanotan I (afamelanotide).

05AnimalNot a test of Melanotan I (afamelanotide) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In gerbils with global cerebral ischemia, blockade of melanocortin MC(4) receptors prevented the protective effects of NDP-alpha-MSH.
In plain wordsIn gerbils, blocking MC(4) receptors stopped the protective effects of NDP-alpha-MSH.
Peptide
Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
Outcome
DecreaseProtection with melanocortin MC(4) receptor blockade
Study
Mongolian gerbiln: not reported in source
Global cerebral ischemia (10 min, both common carotid arteries occluded)
Comparator
NDP-alpha-MSH without blockade
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
Pharmacological blockade of melanocortin MC(4) receptors prevented the protective effects of NDP-alpha-MSH.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A 10-min period of global cerebral ischemia in gerbils, induced by occluding both common carotid arteries, caused impairment in spatial learning and memory (Morris test: four sessions from 4 to 67 days after the ischemic episode), associated with neuronal death in the hippocampus.
In this study, Melanotan I (afamelanotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Melanotan I (afamelanotide).
Report a problemFND-1664770005

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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